FOLLOWING back to back wins in which they scored ten goals, Formby travelled to Surrey Street to take on Premier Division outfit Glossop North End in the FA Vase.

The match should’ve been a home tie for Formby but the Evo-Stik League refused to switch landlords Burscough’s scheduled league match to accommodate it.

Managers Jim Shirley and Kev Dally are having to take something of a ‘make do and mend’ approach with many of their squad either injured or carrying a knock.

They welcomed Mikey White back from suspension but otherwise relied on the same starting eleven who won at AFC Darwen the previous week.

Andy Olsen, signed this week from Ashton Town, was named as a substitute. Olsen is a familiar face to the Formby faithful, having first played for the Squirrels over a decade ago when the club was still at Brows Lane.

Formby got the game underway in the warm autumn sunshine. Perhaps mindful, of the possibility of extra time, both sides started slowly and didn’t create any chances to speak of. Formby’s defence, marshalled superbly by White and Molyneux, comfortably repelled what little the Hillmen threw at them.

Indeed they restricted them to shots from distance. In the 17th minute left back Matthew Russell hit an angled drive that Josh O’Connell watched all the way and let go over his bar.

With injuries depriving Formby of their best forward players, Luke Holden has been shouldering the attacking burden. He collected the ball in the 21st minute and ran at the Glossop defence before hitting a powerful drive that swerved in the air enough to almost deceive Ben Procter who did well to parry the ball before David Young completed the clearance.

With both sides boasting seemingly impregnable defence, the game continued to be played out in midfield. Luke Holden’s persistent running won his side a corner that was hit towards the far post where it was headed back across goal by Marvin Molyneux towards Mikey White. The Squirrels’ skipper could only direct the ball over the bar.

Shortly after the half hour Franny Smith’s injuries got the better of him and he was replaced by Andy Olsen.

Just before half time Josh Essery was forced into committing a foul right on the edge of the area for which he was booked. Glossop failed to capitalise as the free kick eluded their strikers and came to nothing.

The pattern of the first half continued in the second. Possession of the ball changed constantly from team to team as determined defences and unyielding midfield play stifled the creative players and so prevented either side building up any serious forward momentum.

In the 58th minute a 25 yard David Young effort forced Josh O’Connell into a full length diving save.

Formby finally began to look the more likely side and as the game passed the hour mark a fluent move involving former Glossop player Jamie Turner, Luke Holden and Keiron Brislen ended with a cross that just eluded Andy Olsen.

Mini Adegbenro was becoming increasingly more involved in the game and his pace and trickery was giving Kelvin Lugsden a torrid time. In the 62nd minute he linked up with Jamie Turner and got in behind the Glossop defence.

His low shot towards the near post looked to have beaten Procter but nestled in the side netting. The feeling was growing amongst the travelling Squirrels supporters that one goal would win the game and that Adegbenro was the most likely man to get it.

The Hillmen hit back as Tom Bailey crossed for Alexander Byrne but he placed his shot wide when it looked easier to score. A minute later a Josh Essery throw found Paul Speed in the box. He let the ball go past him before hitting a thumping shot that went just wide.

In the 72nd minute came the moment that looked like it would win the game and it was that man Adegbenro who provided it. Glossop centre half Lincoln Adams misjudged a headed clearance and sent it looping behind him.

Adegbenro latched onto it and hit a shot that beat Procter but bounced down off the underside off the crossbar and into the hugely relieved keeper’s arms. Adegbenro couldn’t have done anymore.

Formby continued to enjoy a sustained period of pressure at the Glossop end, and dead ball specialist Marvin Molyneux’s 25 yard free kick was punched clear by Procter.

For all their assertive approach work in the final twenty minutes, Formby did not manage to find the net.

There was a final cruel blow awaiting Formby. In the last minute Brislen and Turner contrived to lose possession in midfield and Glossop played the ball out to Andy Kilheeney. He knocked it out for substitute Paul Cliff whose poor first touch sent him towards the by-line. He crossed the ball backwards towards Kyle Riley whose miscued effort turned the ball into the net.